Invited star of 70

The star invited of 70 is an astronomical phenomenon observed in the year 70 of our era by Astronome S Chinese which listed it under the generic term of invited star, i.e. the temporary apparation of a new star in the sky. This type of phenomenon has three possible causes: it can be a question of a Comet, a Nova or a Supernova. The phenomenon is very badly documented, but the parvenu testimony of this time pleads for a nova.

Testimony available

Like many other astronomical phenomena dating of more than 1000 years transmitted by the astronomers of the Chinese world, there exists only little of sources reporting the phénomème, in fact only one. This one comes from the Hou Hanshu (or Delivers of Han posterior), reporting the history of the Eastern branch of the Dynastie Han between 25 and 220. It stipulates that the star appeared in the Astérisme Xuanyuan , located in current the Western Constellation of the Lion. No other indication of position is given, which makes the localization precise of the phenomenon difficult because of the big size of the asterism. The star remained visible 48 days. No indication of movement is given. The asterism is located enough far from the galactic Plan (galactic Latitude about +50°).

Interpretation

The absence of movement of the star seems to exclude the assumption from a comet. Its duration of relatively short visibility, associated with a strong distance of the galactic plane also excludes the assumption from a supernova. The assumption of a nova thus seems most coherent to explain this phenomenon, although it is difficult to acquire an absolute certainty on its true nature.

Reference

, page 202.

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